Leaping, Diving & Plunging Head First Into Humanity
So, I may or may not have recruited a friend to write an article for The Middle Finger Project. And her name may or may not be Katie. And I may or may not have met her while wrangling the likes of five men at once in Chile.
Okay, so maybe it didn’t exactly happen like that. But it should have.
Why did I ask her to write for TMFproject? Because Katie is one of those people that I sit back and stare at in awe. Not because she brings flowers to the house every time she visits (gentlemen, ahem, take note), or because she’s traveled far more than I have, or because she has this uncanny ability to seem so naturally at ease around strangers–even abnormally attractive ones–or because she (annoyingly) dances salsa like a sexy swan at first attempt. I asked Katie to write for TMFproject because the girl has got game. And by game, I don’t mean a head tilt/hair flip/seductive half smile/wink/reel-em-in combo (although, now that I think of it, she has that, too), I mean game as in the real deal game. She’s smart. Sassy. Sophisticated. Suave. Katie knows how to make life work for her, not against her, as she travels the world, makes sense of her scientific communications degree (yes, there is such a thing), juggles suitors with all sorts of mysterious foreign accents, & spends her free time being wise enough to know when to soak up the moment, yet foolish enough to know when to let it carry her away…
For this I love her.
An Intro & Some Guy Named Curtis. Captain Curtis, That Is.
Since you don’t know me, I’m going to tell you something about myself: I never lost my childhood senses of adventure and imagination. In fact, they’ve gotten stronger as I’ve gotten older (…and wiser, yes, thank you for mentioning it!)
And even though we hardly know one another, I’m going to invite you to play my favorite game with me…..Pretend.
(Don’t worry, this ain’t no childish game a’ pretend! But please do excuse the following Disney reference…)
…Hi-Ho-Hi-Ho it’s off to pretend-land we go…
Okay, you can go to as many countries as you want in one day. Any of them. All of them. Where would you go and what would you do?
Personally, I think I’d start in Ireland. Yes, please, Captain Curtis! Off we go! I want a traditional breakfast this morning. No better way to start the day than with a fried egg, rashers and sausages and blood pudding!
And uh, dare I be bold BUT is 6 a.m. too early for a pint of Guinness?
You’re right. I guess I should have juice.
In that case, I’ll have a pint of Bulmer’s Apple Cider!
(Oh goodness my taste buds are tingling!)
Where to next? I need some exercise after all that.
Captain Curtis, you’re a genius! A mountain range, you say?! The Swiss Alps it is. Time for a hike!
Well, captain, since we’re close, why not head to Italy for lunch?
Please, bruschetta to start. And do I prefer pizza or pasta? Whatever your favorite dish is, Sergio. (AKA: my hunk-of-burning-love server whose deep brown eyes I’m honored to be staring endlessly and romantically looking into while I order.) ←Oh yes I did go there! Don’t tell me you weren’t dreaming of getting lost in the accent of a beautiful Italian as they took your order! Momma Mia! (Accent in full-blown effect, mind you.)
And, yes, I’d love a bottle of red. (Silly question!)
And when I’m finished with all that, could I please have a (bucket-sized) cappuccino? And a Cannoli?
(Okay. Now my taste buds ARE tingling…AND mingling!)
Oh, Sergio! What a great thought! Of course I’d love to have a language exchange. I’d love to learn some Italian and would be delighted to help you improve your English.
What’s that? You’d like to go for gelato now? Sì, per favore! Che buon’idea! Grazie!
Captain Curtis, you’re right, we need to leave. But where to for the evening? To Russia for the ballet, to Australia to see a Rugby match or back to Ireland for that Guinness and a traditional music and dance gig?
I know I want fresh Sushi smothered in caviar from the Philippines for dinner. And a Bubble Tea!
But, Captain Curtis, the flight after will be a long one. Since today’s tomorrow on the other side of the world, we are SOOO dancing across the Americas!
First we’ll stop and warm up with some belly dancing in Turkey and some tribal dancing in Mozambique!
Then we’re off to dance the night away! The possibilities are endless!
Samba in Brazil!
Tango in Argentina! (And of course more wine!)
Cumbia in Colombia! (Tequila optional! Wimp!)
Bachata in the Dominican!
Reggaeton in Puerto Rico!
Oh my! WHAT A TRIP! Captain Curtis, thank you! And YOU, yes YOU my reader out there lost in the middle of this cyberspace pretend adventure, thanks for accompanying me!
Back To Reality
Okay, in reality, our trip has been too action-packed for one day, BUT, here’s my point: All the cultural things I mentioned above are closer than you think. You don’t need an expensive plane ticket or a Captain Curtis to get you there. [Sidenote from Ash: Who is this mysterious Captain Curtis character?] Hell, you don’t even need a passport.
Why?
Because we, in the USA, live in a melting pot.
Merriam-Webster’s defines the term “melting pot” as: a place where a variety of races, cultures, or individuals assimilate into a cohesive whole; the population of such a place.
I define it as: all the world’s cultures hand delivered to you—and pretty dang close to your own backyard.
So tell me this, why haven’t you explored more of it? Why not make it a point to get out on the weekends and explore China Town or Little Italy? Are you afraid someone might step on and break your toe during salsa class? Or do you really hate subtitles that much that you can’t watch a French film? Or perhaps it’s because of a stereotype you’ve heard. Or a fear of exploring something new? Or maybe fear of language? Understandable, really. Just how do you communicate with that giant purple, headless monster with fourteen eyesballs that hails from all the way across the * GULP * Atlantic Ocean?!
Regardless of the excuse, here’s what I have to demand say to you: GET OVER IT. NOW!
Trust me, if you miss your friend’s status update on Facebook, he won’t hate you forever…but he might be jealous when he reads yours and sees what kind of amazing venture you’re taking. And here’s a simple solution: Invite him, too! And tell him to invite his friends so they’re not jealous of his status! The more stereotypes we can break, and the more we can spread cultural understanding and acceptance, the better.
In this country, we are SO fortunate to have so much culture readily available to us. What is unfortunate, however, is how little we take advantage of it.
Of course it is easier to ignore it (or, worse yet, * GASP * ignorantly and negatively judge it) than it is to enjoy it. You’ll be amazed to see how many ‘foreign’ options you have available domestically.
Visit the closest city and see for yourself. Heck, be brave. Head to a city you’ve never seen. (But take a map. No, not because I think you’ll get lost, but so you can navigate easily and visit as many cultures as possible, silly!) [Additional sidenote from Ash: Is the culture otherwise known as "Sexy Mediterranean Men" labeled on this so-called map? Someone get me a highlighter.]
Whatever you do, make every effort to step outside your (triple-safety-netted) comfort zone. Actually, on second thought, don’t step outside it.
LEAP! DIVE! PLUNGE!
Get up! Get out! Get your cultural exploration on!
What are you waiting for…another invitation from me…like one for a real life adventure?! VAMOS, AMIGOS!
…Where are we going to go? What are we going to do? Who else are you taking?
And now that you’re thinking…admit it…the possibilities for experiencing foreign cultures in your own city are endless and pretty friggin’ awesome, aren’t they?!!
Do it, just do it..do it, do it, do it. And yes, I think that pretty much sums up what I wanted to include here. Does anyone have any good suggestions for unique cross-cultural activities that we can–as Katie put it–leap, dive and plunge into? (I beg you–anything but the pig!) What about you folks currently abroad? Are there any unique ideas/ways of life/foods/traditions, etc. that you’d like to share?
P.S. Thanks, Katie. And an even bigger thanks for hostels. In Chile. Where you meet people like this chick. Even if she does dance better than me.
P.P.S. Katie does not have a blog. Nor Twitter. So I’m hogging her all to myself. Deal with it.
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